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Kevin Kmetz

Kevin is a Tsugaru-Shamisen player from Santa Cruz, California. A Japanese-American, Kevin is the creator of the style of music known in Japan as "California Shamisen," and he has a degree in Composition from Cal Arts where he studied on Piano, Cello, and Guitar. In 2006 he placed 2nd in the Japanese National Shamisen tournament. In Japan he has played with many famous Shamisen players including Masahiro Nitta, Hanawa Chie, Akihito Narumi and the band Shirakami, and has appeared numerous times on NHK Television. Kevin plays guitar, keyboards and Tsugaru Shamisen in Estradasphere as well as heading the band God of Shamisen and he has performed extensively with Romanian Gypsy folk group, The Fishtank Ensemble.